PUNE: The property tax collection department of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation(PCMC) till October 31, in 2016-17 has collected additional Rs 14.31 crore than in the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. Speaking to TOI, Dilip Gawde, joint commissioner and chief of property tax department, PCMC said that the property tax collection up to October 31 in 2016-17 has been Rs 259.02 crore while the property tax collection in the corresponding period in 2015-16 was Rs 244.71 crore.

Explaining the reasons for the good performance, Gawde said, “Notices were issued to property holders having arrears of more than Rs 5 lakh. Administrative officers, assistant zonal officer and group leaders had visited the homes of defaulters.”

He added, “A total of 1.32 lakh property holders had paid their tax and cleared their arrears using cash and demand draft as mode of payment. 32,300 property holders paid their taxes using cheques. A total of 70,300 property holders have paid their tax using online method.”

There are a total of 4.3 lakh properties in the city which includes residential, commercial and industrial properties. The civic body has started applying penalty of 2 percent per month on the tax arrears not cleared of the first half of the fiscal till September 30. Also if the property holders do not clear the tax of second half of this fiscal till December 31 then it will start applying penalty of 2 percent per month on this amount too.